5 Ways to Get Perfect Skin (and 5 Ways to Fake It!)

We learn this fact of life early on: Most of us aren’t born with flawless, poreless, radiant complexions. However, by treating your skin with a little loving care, you can improve its texture by leaps and bounds. Or…you can use products that make you look like you did. Heed these tips and you’ll trick people into thinking your skin is naturally perfect—we won’t give away your secret!

How to Get Perfect Skin: Don’t Over-Pick Pimples

We understand the temptation, really we do. The truth is, you can pop a zit if it’s a whitehead, but only once! Resist the urge to squeeze the spot until you bleed—that’s how scarring happens! As soon as the little guy shows up, put a little benzoyl peroxide treatment (try Clinique’s Acne Solutions Emergency Gel Lotion, $15) on it, and leave it alone so your skin can heal.

How to Get Perfect Skin: Find the Right Moisturizer for You

Finding the right moisturizer takes some trial and error—but once you find The One, your skin will love you for it. Oh, and ladies with oily skin, you need moisturizer too! A light, oil-free lotion should do the trick.

How to Get Perfect Skin: Sun Protection

Let’s be real—you aren’t a vampire. You want to be in the sun. Just make sure to protect your skin. Sunscreen, hats, and cover-ups at the beach are musts to keep your skin protected from wrinkle-inducing and skin cancer-causing rays. Don’t be lazy with this one, ladies.

How to Get Perfect Skin: Beat Those Blackheads

Even if you don’t have a bunch of pimples, clogged pores totally mess with your skin’s groove. Blackheads make pores look bigger and make your skin’s surface less smooth. One way to keep your complexion clear is to use a salicylic acid cleanser like Bioré Pore Unclogging Scrub, $8, so you’ll have a smoother canvas to work with for your makeup.

How to Fake Perfect Skin: Mattify Without Powder

For those who aren’t a fan of translucent powder (which can settle into fine lines and appear cakey), a mattifier like Mally Beauty Evercolor Face Defender, $40, gets rid of shine without the added weight. Carry the palette with you during the day for easy touchups—the product’s clear, so you can’t overdo it!

Photo: Mally Beauty

How to Fake Perfect Skin: Highlight, Highlight, Highlight

If your skin is looking a little lackluster, add a bit of light-catching powder or cream for an instant pick-me-up. But beware of too much shimmer; you want your highlighter to look natural and dewy, not shiny. Benefit High Beam, $26, creates an excellent subtle sheen.

Photo: Benefit Cosmetics

How to Fake Perfect Skin: Prep With Primer

You’ve heard about primer, tried it even, but you don’t actually use it. If you want your makeup to stay put all day, we suggest giving primer another go. Create a smooth canvas by applying Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer, $13, before your usual cosmetics routine. You’ll be amazed at how much smoother your skin looks and at how your makeup stays in place.

Photo: Revlon

How to Fake Perfect Skin: Try BB Cream, the New Miracle Product

If primer is one too many steps for your makeup regimen, give BB Cream a try. BB stands for beauty balm, and a pea-size amount of this multipurpose product moisturizes, smoothes, covers, and provides substantial sun protection! Think of it as tinted moisturizer but kicked up a notch or five. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35, $39, comes in five skin-matching shades.

Photo: Smashbox

How to Fake Perfect Skin: Self Tan (With SPF!)

With all that sunscreen you’re using, a faux tan is your new BFF. Tried-and-true favorite Jergens Natural Glow, $8, now comes with broad-spectrum sun protection for your faceand body! You may be faking the tan, but nobody will know.